In a 2019 National Travel Survey, over 2.6% of participants aged 18 and above admitted to having been involved in a road traffic accident in the twelve months preceding their interview.
Road traffic accident claims are the most common personal injury claims dealt with by Irish solicitors, largely because of the range of dangerous incidents that can occur on the road.
Generally speaking, Ireland has made strides forward in making the roads a safer place – 2021 saw the number of fatalities on the road fall to 136, the lowest total since recording began in 1959.
By that metric, the country ranks second for road safety among EU countries, but those statistics offer scant consolation to those that have been involved, or those whose loved ones have been involved, in serious road traffic accidents.
Accidents on the road happen for a host of different reasons and they can involve drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
If you suffer personal injuries as a result of a road traffic accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation.
For more information on the mechanics behind road traffic accident claims, feel free to contact a road traffic accident solicitor at Hughes & Associates Solicitors.
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Are You Entitled to a Road Traffic Accident Claim?
Drivers, passengers and pedestrians are all entitled to file road traffic accident claims if it is proven that they suffered an accident or personal injury because of someone else’s negligence on the road.
Proving negligence requires you to establish two things:
If, for example, the reckless actions of the other driver involved in your car accident are proven to be the reason the accident occurred, there may be a basis for you to file a claim.
There is a broad scope for road traffic accidents and every situation is different, but if you feel as though you have reason to submit a personal injury claim, feel free to get in touch with a road traffic accident solicitor from our team.
Types of Road Traffic Accident Claims
As has been mentioned, road traffic accidents can involve all manner of vehicles and many different situations can constitute negligence on Irish roads.
There is no definitive list of accidents that can form the basis of a claim for compensation, but there are incidents, considered to be somewhat typical, that pose danger to vehicles.
Some common accidents that can provide the basis for a road traffic claim include:
Common causes of Road Accidents
According to the Injuries Board, road traffic accidents are the most common source of claims – 75% of the settlements in Ireland are awarded as a result of car crashes. The most common factors that lead to serious personal injuries and fatalities on the road are:
What to Do in a Hit and Run Accident
The law states that any drivers involved in a road traffic accident must exchange contact details and information about their insurance company before leaving the scene.
Still, hit and run accidents do happen and, even if it proves impossible to track down the parties involved in the incident, you may be entitled to compensation from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland.
A percentage of every motor insurance policy in Ireland is used to pay for the MIBI, whose funds protect victims of hit and run accidents.
MIBI claims can also impact victims of road traffic accidents with uninsured drivers.
What to Do if Your Accident Involves an Uninsured Driver
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland was set up to protects drivers involved in accidents that made submitting a standard road traffic accident claim more difficult.
Primarily, the MIBI is concerned with hit and run accidents and accidents involving uninsured drivers.
If the party responsible for your injury lacks or has a faulty insurance policy, you may want to seek retribution from the MIBI.
How Much Can I Claim for a Road Traffic Accident?
Compensation for road traffic accident claims varies from case to case, and if you would like a concentrated estimate of the value of your case, you can inquire with a personal injury solicitor at Hughes & Associates for a full assessment.
The factors that usually influence the amount of compensation involved in a road traffic accident claim include:
Steps to Follow After a Road Traffic Accident
Seek Medical Treatment
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, your health should be your priority. For a major injury, ensure you call emergency services straight away and request an ambulance. For minor injuries, keep track of the injury in the coming days as it develops and try to keep a medical report of your situation as it happens.
Warn Other Drivers
Alert oncoming traffic of the danger they face if the vehicles involved in the accident are blocking a busy roadway. This can be particularly dangerous if the motor collision happens at a bend in the road. You can use hazard lights to convey the jeopardy.
Collect Information at the Scene
Exchange contact details with the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident. If a hit and run accident occurred, and you are physically well enough, contact the nearest Garda station and alert them of the situation. Take pictures at the scene and keep record of all relevant facts connected to the accident.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Your insurance company will require an accident report if you were driving a vehicle involved in a road traffic accident.
Contact a Personal Injury Solicitor
For cases involving personal injury claims, you may wish to consider reaching out to a road traffic accident solicitor to talk you through the process and explain the merits of your case.
Steps Involved in Making a Personal Injury Claim
There are four steps that you should be conscious of if you want to go about filing a road traffic accident claim:
- 1Seek legal guidance: if you choose not to file the claim yourself, contacting personal injury solicitors can be a good first step so as to begin legal proceedings as soon as possible.
- 2Obtain medical records and any third-party reports: any evidence that supports your case should be acquired as quickly as possible.
- 3Assess your claim for compensation: a solicitor should estimate the extent of any compensation based on the circumstances and severity of the personal injury.
- 4Begin legal proceedings: your chances of success are aided by acting quickly. The application for your case should be submitted as soon as it can be.
Make a Road Traffic Accident Claim Today
If you feel as though you have suffered a road traffic accident claim that was not your fault, you may want to consider filing a claim for compensation.
At Hughes & Associates, our team of experienced solicitors is available to advise you on your situation and provide a full assessment of your case.
Contact us below.